EP0988880A1 - Gefrierkonzentrationsvorrichtung für wässrige lösungen, vorrichtung zur herstellung von eiskolonnen und gefrierkonzentrationsverfahren für wässrige lösungen - Google Patents

Gefrierkonzentrationsvorrichtung für wässrige lösungen, vorrichtung zur herstellung von eiskolonnen und gefrierkonzentrationsverfahren für wässrige lösungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0988880A1
EP0988880A1 EP98923190A EP98923190A EP0988880A1 EP 0988880 A1 EP0988880 A1 EP 0988880A1 EP 98923190 A EP98923190 A EP 98923190A EP 98923190 A EP98923190 A EP 98923190A EP 0988880 A1 EP0988880 A1 EP 0988880A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
producing
pillar
suspension
cylinder
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98923190A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0988880A4 (de
Inventor
Katsuhiko Shinozaki
Hisatoyo Yazawa
Yutaka Yamazaki
Kiyoshi Tenmaru
Yushio Sugita
Hitoshi Hasegawa
Eiji Sekiya
Akimasa Nakagomi
Heihachi Matsunaga
Yoshihiko Katsuyama
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd filed Critical Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Publication of EP0988880A1 publication Critical patent/EP0988880A1/de
Publication of EP0988880A4 publication Critical patent/EP0988880A4/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
    • A23G9/00—Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
    • A23G9/32—Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L2/00—Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor; Their preparation
    • A23L2/02—Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor; Their preparation containing fruit or vegetable juices
    • A23L2/08—Concentrating or drying of juices
    • A23L2/12—Concentrating or drying of juices by freezing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/40—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution
    • A23L3/405—Fractionated crystallisation
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/40—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution
    • A23L3/44—Freeze-drying
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D9/00—Crystallisation
    • B01D9/02—Crystallisation from solutions
    • B01D9/04—Crystallisation from solutions concentrating solutions by removing frozen solvent therefrom
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/22—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by freezing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/12—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
    • F25C1/14—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes
    • F25C1/145—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a freeze-concentrating apparatus for an aqueous solution, an ice pillar producing apparatus and a freeze-concentrating method for an aqueous solution, which are particularly used for concentration of an aqueous solution such as beverage, alcohol, a medicament and for disposal for turning industrial waste water or seawater into fresh water.
  • a freeze-concentrating method is a method of concentrating an aqueous solution by cooling a target aqueous solution, freezing water within the aqueous solution to obtain an ice, extracting the ice by solid-liquid separation. Accordingly, the method is suitable for concentrating an aqueous solution of which solute is liable to be degraded and a beverage of which aroma is liable to fade under a high temperature.
  • the extracted ice in the above freeze-concentrating method can be utilized as a regenerative material, and the method can be applied to a case for turning seawater into fresh water.
  • ice producing means for producing a suspension containing an ice to be used for freeze concentration it is general to produce an ice by condensing water on the surface of a cooled drum or the inner surface of a cylinder, then scraping the thus produced ice.
  • ice crystals obtained by this ice producing means are flaky.
  • a maturing tank is separately used as means for producing and growing the ice crystals, and the ice crystal is stirred under a given temperature condition to grow the ice crystals to be spherical and large. Therefore, the treated aqueous solution of which amount corresponds to the capacity and residence time of the maturing tank is always required in addition to a required amount thereof for the ice production. As a result, the apparatus is large sized.
  • the above ice producing means there is a method of producing an ice in quasi-criticality by excessive cooling, which is used for regenerating cooling/heating energy and the like for air conditioning.
  • this ice producing means a suspension containing ice crystals in nearly spherical shape can be obtained.
  • the ice crystals obtained by this ice producing means have extremely small grain diameters, which means difficultly in solid-liquid separation. Since there is no conventional method for effectively growing the ice crystals, this ice producing means has not been applied to the freeze-concentrating method.
  • the present invention has been made in view to the above problems and its conception is that even flaky ice crystal or spherical but small ice crystal can be used for freeze-concentration regardless of an ice producing method if the ice crystals can be accumulated in a short period of time without using a special maturing tank and can be grown in the spherical shape. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to grow ice crystals to be large and spherical in a suspension, while reducing the entire size of an apparatus.
  • the inventors of the present invention have found that spherical ice crystals having large grain diameters can be obtained in such a manner that a suspension containing ice crystals is produced by cooling an aqueous solution, a liquid component is separated and discharged from the suspension to increase the ratio of the ice crystals in the suspension, and the ice crystals are grown to produce an ice pillar.
  • the inventors have further found that a concentrated solution can be obtained in such a manner that, for example, the thus obtained ice pillar is inserted in a column filter, cold water is injected into one end of the column filter to push out a concentrated solution in the ice crystals of the ice pillar from the other end of the column filter. In consequence, the present invention has been achieved.
  • first solving means is directed to a freeze-concentrating apparatus for an aqueous solution.
  • This solving means comprises ice producing means, having a heat exchanger for cooling, for continuously producing a suspension containing ice crystals by cooling an aqueous solution by the heat exchanger for cooling. Further, it comprises ice pillar producing means, to which the suspension produced by the ice producing means is supplied, for separating and discharging a liquid component from the suspension to increase the ratio of the ice crystals and for producing a column-shaped ice cake by growing the ice crystals.
  • separating means for taking out a concentrated solution from the ice pillar produced by the ice pillar producing means.
  • a second solving means comprises, in the first solving means, ice pillar cutting/conveying means for cutting the ice cake produced by the ice pillar producing means into an ice pillar of a given length and for conveying the ice pillar to the separating means.
  • the ice producing means in the first or second solving means includes a stirring mechanism for stirring the aqueous solution flowing to a cooling cylinder serving as the heat exchanger for cooling or a scraping blade mechanism for scraping an ice generated on the surface of a cooling cylinder serving as the heat exchanger for cooling.
  • the ice pillar producing means in any one of the first through to third solving means includes a producing cylinder to which the suspension is supplied, and a filter, attached to a part of the side wall of the producing cylinder, for separating and discharging the liquid component from the suspension.
  • the producing cylinder has at the inside thereof an accumulating chamber for producing a column-shaped ice cake by accumulating the suspension, fusing the ice crystals in the suspension by at least one of pressure application and the weight of itself, and growing the ice crystals.
  • the producing cylinder in the fourth solving means includes a rectification plate, in which a plurality of holes is formed, for rectifying the suspension. Further, the accumulating chamber is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by the rectification plate. In addition, an outer cylinder is provided outside of the producing cylinder for receiving the liquid component discharged from the producing cylinder.
  • the separating means in any one of the first through to fifth means includes a column filter to which the ice pillar is inserted, and a cold water injecting mechanism, having a head part adhered to and caught by the column filter, for substituting the concentrated solution in the ice pillar for cold water by injecting cold water into the column filter through the head part to take out the concentrated solution.
  • the separating means in any one of the first through to fifth solving means includes a column filter to which the ice pillar is inserted, and a vacuum pump, connected with the lower part of the column filter, for taking out the concentrated solution in the ice pillar by applying a negative pressure to the column filter.
  • the separating means in any one of the first through to fifth solving means includes a centrifuge, having a rotary cylinder for crushing adequately and accommodating the ice cake produced by the ice pillar producing means, for centrifugally separating to take out the concentrated solution in the ice cake by rotating the rotary cylinder.
  • Ninth solving means is directed to an ice pillar producing apparatus.
  • This solving means comprises a producing cylinder to which a suspension containing ice crystals is supplied. Further comprised is a filter, attached to a part of the side wall of the producing cylinder, for separating and discharging a liquid component from the suspension.
  • the producing cylinder includes at the inside thereof an accumulation chamber for producing a column-shaped ice cake by accumulating the suspension, fusing the ice crystals in the suspension by at least one of pressure application and the weight of itself, and growing the ice crystals.
  • the producing cylinder in the ninth solving means includes a rectification plate, in which a plurality of holes are formed, for rectifying the suspension. Further, the accumulation chamber is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by the rectification plate. In addition, an outer cylinder is provided outside the producing cylinder for receiving the liquid component discharged from the producing cylinder.
  • eleventh solving means is directed to a method of freeze-concentrating an aqueous solution.
  • an aqueous solution is cooled first by a heat exchanger for cooling of ice producing means, and a suspension containing ice crystals is continuously produced.
  • the suspension produced by the ice producing means is supplied to the ice pillar producing means to produce a column-shaped ice cake by separating and discharging a liquid component from the suspension to increase the ratio of the ice crystals, and growing the ice crystals.
  • the ice cake produced by the ice pillar producing means is cut into an ice pillar of a given length and is conveyed and inserted to a column filter of separating means by ice pillar cutting/conveying means. Thereafter, cold water is injected or infused into the separating means to take out the concentrated solution in the ice crystals in the ice pillar.
  • the cooling cylinder serving as the heat exchanger for cooling is cooled by driving the ice producing means and the aqueous solution is supplied to the ice producing means.
  • the aqueous solution is stirred by, for example, a stirring member to become the suspension containing the ice crystals, then is flown into the ice pillar producing means.
  • the suspension is flown into the producing cylinder of the ice pillar producing means to be stirred by the flow thereof.
  • the suspension flows through the holes of the rectification plate, so that the ice crystals are more evenly dispersed. Then, the ice crystals float up in the suspension.
  • the ice crystals are deposited and are compressed by receiving the weights of the suspension and the ice cake, thereby the ice crystals are fused and grown. As a result, the ice crystals which are solidified to be the ice cake are pushed upward.
  • the ice cake is, for example, cut into the ice pillar of the given length then is conveyed to the column filter of the separating means by the ice cutting/conveying means.
  • the cold water is injected into the column filter to substitute the concentrated solution in the ice pillar for the cold water, so as to be discharged out from the column filter.
  • the concentrated solution may be utilized directly or condensed again, and the ice pillar after the substitution is reused as a thermal source for cooling, and the like.
  • the suspension produced by the ice producing means contains the ice crystals of a high ratio, the ice crystals are grown to produce the column-shaped ice cake, and the concentrated solution is taken out from the ice pillar of the given length into which the ice cake is cut, thereby achieving continuous drive of freeze concentration. Additionally, size reduction of the device itself and cost reduction for facility investment can be contemplated.
  • the ice crystals in the suspension produced by the ice producing means can be made large and spherical by the ice pillar producing means, the ice crystals, which are produced regardless of an ice producing method, can be used for freeze concentration. This attains great enhancement of concentration efficiency.
  • the present invention is useful in concentration of fruit juice, grape juice, and the like, for concentration of pharmaceutical material, for turning seawater into fresh water for shipping and for remote islands, and for disposal of industrial waste water.
  • the thus produced ice pillar may be used as food in a sherbet state with the use of wine.
  • food having novel taste such as a stuffing in a dumpling is obtained, instead of frosty food such as conventional food in a sherbet state.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a freeze-concentrating apparatus 1 in the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a front view of the freeze-concentrating apparatus 1
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the freeze-concentrating apparatus 1 .
  • the above freeze-concentrating apparatus 1 includes ice producing means 2 for producing a suspension Ls containing ice crystals Cp , ice pillar producing means 3 for producing an ice pillar Ip , ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 for conveying the ice pillar Ip , and separating means 5 for taking out a concentrated solution Lt from the ice pillar Ip.
  • the above ice producing means 2 is of night regeneration type in an air conditioner and is composed of a vapor-compression type refrigeration cycle.
  • the ice producing means 2 is so composed that a cooling cylinder 22 is connected with a thermal source unit 21 having a compressor, a condenser and an expansion mechanism. Further, a coolant is circulated from the thermal source unit 21 to the inside of the sidewall of the cooling cylinder 22, then is evaporated inside the sidewall of the cooling cylinder 22 .
  • the cooling cylinder 22 composes a heat exchanger for cooling.
  • a material tank 11 is connected through a conveying pipe 12 and ice pillar producing means 3 is connected through another conveying pipe 14 .
  • a stirring mechanism 23 is provided to the cooling cylinder 22 .
  • the material tank 11 reserves an aqueous solution Lu which is supplied to the cooling cylinder 22 by means of a circulating pump 13 .
  • the conveying pipe 12 is provided with a shut-off valve 1a and a check valve 1b .
  • the stirring mechanism 23 is composed of a motor 24 and a stirring member 25 connected therewith.
  • the stirring mechanism 23 is so composed to stir the aqueous solution Lu flowing to the cooling cylinder 22.
  • the aqueous solution Lu flowing to the cooling cylinder 22 is cooled by evaporation of the coolant and cooled by being stirring by the stirring member 25 to be in an excessively cooled state.
  • the aqueous solution Lu in the excessively cooled state flows into the ice pillar producing means 3 from the cooling cylinder 22 through the conveying pipe 14 .
  • an equilibrium state of the excessively cooled aqueous solution Lu is broken by an impact energy or the like.
  • ice cores of the ice crystals Cp are generated in the aqueous solution Lu , so that the aqueous solution Lu becomes a suspension Ls containing the ice crystals Cp.
  • the suspension Ls is conveyed to the ice pillar producing means 3 through the conveying pipe 14.
  • the ice pillar producing means 3 is, as shown in Figure 4 . formed in a double-pipe structure in which an inner cylinder 32 serving as a producing cylinder is inserted in an outer cylinder 31 .
  • Each of the outer cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder 32 is formed in the shape of a funnel at the lower parts thereof and opened at the upper parts thereof.
  • the inner cylinder 32 is connected at the lower end part thereof with the conveying pipe 14 so as to communicate with the cooling cylinder 22 of the ice producing means 2 , and the inside of the inner cylinder 32 composes an accumulation chamber 3R .
  • a rectification plate 33 is provided at the lower part of the inner cylinder 32 to divide the accumulation chamber 3R into an upper accumulation chamber 3U and a lower accumulation chamber 3L .
  • the rectification plate 33 is, as shown in Figure 5, composed of a punched plate in which a plurality of holes 3h having, for example, diameters of 5 to 10 mm are formed.
  • the rectification plate 33 rectifies the flow of the suspension Ls so as to evenly disperse the ice crystals Cp in the suspension Ls flowing into the upper accumulation chamber 3U from the lower accumulation chamber 3L .
  • a filter 35 is formed at slightly above the rectification plate 33 .
  • the filter 35 is so composed to separate and discharge a liquid component from the suspension Ls .
  • the inner cylinder 32 accumulates the suspension Ls and fuses the ice crystals Cp by separating and discharging the liquid component of the suspension Ls by the weight of itself. At the same time, the inner cylinder 32 produces a column-shaped ice cake Cm by growing the ice crystals Cp .
  • the suspension Ls containing the ice crystals Cp flows into the lower accumulation chamber 3L . Then, the suspension Ls is stirred by the flow thereof in the lower accumulation chamber 3L , thereby the ice crystals Cp are dispersed almost evenly. Further, the suspension Ls flows through the holes 3h of the rectification plate 33 so that the ice crystals Cp are further dispersed. The suspension Ls then flows into the upper accumulation chamber 3U , and the ice crystals Cp float up.
  • the ice crystals Cp are deposited in the upper accumulation chamber 3U .
  • the ice crystals Cp receive the pressure of the suspension Ls and the weight of the ice cake Cm thereabove, and an excessive solution as the liquid component is dispersed from the filter 35 . Then, the ice crystals Cp are compacted and fused to be grown. As a result, solidified ice cake Cm is produced and pushed upward.
  • an upper limit of the height of the grown ice cake Cm depends on a discharge pressure of the circulating pump 13 for circulating the suspension Ls .
  • the outer cylinder 31 has a slightly larger diameter than that of the inner cylinder 32 .
  • the outer cylinder 31 includes at the lower part thereof a filter 36 for separating the ice crystals Cp and is connected with a return pipe 15 and a discharge pipe 3a .
  • the outer cylinder 31 is composed so as to receive the liquid component separated and discharged from the suspension Ls in the inner cylinder 32 .
  • the return pipe 15 is connected with the conveying pipe 12 between the raw liquid tank 11 and the cooling cylinder 22 . Further, the liquid component in the suspension Ls flowing out to the outer cylinder 31 is returned as the aqueous solution Lu to the thermal source unit 21 by the circulating pump 13 . Moisture remaining in the aqueous solution Lu is cooled again together with the aqueous solution Lu from the material tank 11 , thereby being changed to ice crystals Cp .
  • the discharge pipe 3a is provided with a shut-off valve 3b so as to discharge outside of the apparatus the liquid component in the suspension Ls flowing out to the outer cylinder 31.
  • This liquid component may be used as a concentrated solution Lt of a given concentration or may be returned to the material tank 11 for re-concentration.
  • the freeze-concentration can be continuously operated.
  • the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 cuts the ice cake Cm produced by the ice pillar producing means 3 into the ice pillar Ip of a given length and conveys it to the separating means 5 .
  • the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 is, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 , placed on a slide table 61 provided at a base table 6 and is provided with a conveying cylinder 41 and a cutter 42 .
  • the conveying cylinder 41 is reciprocally moveable between the ice pillar producing means 3 and a point above the separating means 5, and has an inner diameter almost equal to that of the inner cylinder 32 of the ice pillar producing means 3.
  • the ice cake Cm produced is introduced into the conveying cylinder 41 at a point continued to the inner cylinder 32.
  • the cutter 42 is provided at the lower part of the conveying cylinder 41 .
  • the cutter 42 cuts the ice pillar Ip introduced to the conveying cylinder 41 when the ice pillar Ip grows, for example, to be about 40 cm in length.
  • the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 conveys the ice pillar Ip to the separating means 5 under a state where the cutter 42 closes a lower end opening of the conveying cylinder 41 .
  • the separating means 5 includes a cylindrical column filter 51 adjacent to the ice pillar producing means 3 .
  • the inner diameter of the column filter 51 is almost equal to that of the conveying cylinder 41 of the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 .
  • the column filter 51 has an almost equal diameter to that of the inner cylinder 32 of the ice pillar producing means 3 , is formed in the shape of a funnel at the lower part thereof, and is connected at the lower part thereof with a discharge pipe 5a .
  • the separating means 5 includes a cold water injecting mechanism 52 .
  • the cold water injecting mechanism 52 is mounted to a supporting pole 62 provided at the base table 6 , is movable upwardly and downwardly, and is provided with a head part 53 and an infusing pipe 54 for cold water.
  • the head part 53 is adhered to and caught by an upper opening of the column filter 51 .
  • the infusing pipe 54 is connected to a cold water tank or the like (not shown). The infusing pipe 54 injects cold water Iw through the head part 53 to the column filter 51 in order to take out the concentrated solution Lt by substituting the concentrated solution Lt in the ice pillar Ip for cold water.
  • the upper part of the column filter 51 is sealed by the head part 53 after the ice pillar Ip is pushed and inserted to the column filter 51 , and the cold water Iw of 1 to 2 °C is injected into the column filter 51 .
  • the injection of the cold water Iw substitutes the concentrated solution Lt in the ice pillar Ip for the cold water Iw to be discharged outside of the column filter 51.
  • the concentrated solution Lt discharged from the column filter 51 may be utilized directly or may be returned to the material tank 11 to be concentrated again.
  • the ice pillar Ip after the substitution is returned to the conveying cylinder 41 of the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 by applying pressure to the column filter 51 from the lower part.
  • the ice pillar Ip is conveyed to a reservoir tank 16 adjacent to the column filter 51 , while closing the lower end opening of the conveying cylinder 41 by the cutter 42 , to be reused as a material of the cold water Iw for substitution or another thermal source for cooling.
  • Described next is concentrating operation of the aforementioned freeze-concentrating apparatus 1 , together with a concentrating method.
  • the cooling cylinder 22 is cooled by circulating the coolant between the thermal source unit 21 and the cooling cylinder 22 by driving the ice producing means 2 .
  • the aqueous solution Lu in the material tank 11 is supplied to the ice producing means 2 by driving the circulating pump 13 .
  • the aqueous solution Lu is cooled by the coolant and stirred by the stirring member 25 to be in the excessively cooled state.
  • the aqueous solution Lu in the excessively cooled state flows out to the conveying pipe 14 from the outlet 26 of the cooling cylinder 22. At this time, ice cores are generated in the aqueous solution Lu by an impact energy or the like, thereby being the suspension Ls containing the ice crystals Cp to flow into the ice pillar producing means 3 .
  • the suspension Ls flows into the lower accumulation chamber 3L of the inner cylinder 32 of the ice pillar producing mens 3 to be stirred by the flow thereof, thereby dispersing the ice crystals Cp evenly. Thereafter, the suspension Ls flows into the upper accumulation chamber 3U through the holes 3h of the rectification plate 33 . For this reason, the ice crystals Cp are dispersed more evenly by the suspension Ls , and float up above the suspension Ls .
  • the liquid component is separated and discharged to the outer cylinder 31 from the inside of the inner cylinder 32 through the filter 35 . Accordingly, the ice crystals Cp are deposited in the upper accumulation chamber 3U and compacted by receiving the pressure of the suspension Ls and the weight of the ice cake Cm thereabove. Thereby, the ice crystals Cp are fused and grown. As a result, the thus solidified ice cake Cm is grown upward.
  • the liquid component in the suspension Ls discharged to the outer cylinder 31 becomes the aqueous solution Lu after passing through the filter 36 .
  • the aqueous solution Lu is returned to the thermal source unit 21 by the circulating pump 13 to be cooled again together with the aqueous solution Lu in the material tank 11 .
  • the ice cake Cm in the upper accumulation chamber 3U is grown upward and is introduced into the conveying cylinder 41 of the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 . Then, the ice cake Cm is cut into the ice pillar Ip of, for example. about 40 cm in length by the cutter 42 .
  • the conveying cylinder 41 of the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 moves along the slide table 61 with the lower end opening closed by the cutter 42 , so that the ice pillar Ip is conveyed to the point above the column filter 51 of the separating means 5 . Subsequently, the cutter 42 is moved to open the lower end opening of the conveying cylinder 41 , so that the ice pillar Ip falls into the column filter 51.
  • the upper part of the column filter 51 is sealed by the head part 53 of the separating means 5 after the conveying cylinder 41 of the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 is moved.
  • the cold water Iw of 1 to 2 °C is injected, for example, at about 1 kg/cm 2 into the column filter 51 .
  • the injection of the cold water Iw substitutes the concentrated solution Lt in the ice pillar Ip for the cold water Iw to be discharged outside of the column filter 51 .
  • the concentrated solution Lt is used directly or returned to the material tank 11 to be concentrated again.
  • the ice pillar Ip after the substitution is returned to the conveying cylinder 41 of the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 from the column filter 51 and is conveyed to the reservoir tank 16 to be reused as a material of the cold water Iw for substitution or another thermal source for cooling.
  • the aqueous solution Lu discharged from the inner cylinder 32 to the outer cylinder 31 of the ice pillar producing means 3 is used as the concentrated solution Lt of a given concentration or returned to the material tank 11 to be concentrated again. Then, the above-described operation is repeated for concentration.
  • ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 only one ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 is provided in this case, but two or more means 4 may be provided. Also, the conveyance of the ice pillar Ip to the separating means 5 and the like may be carried out continuously by alternatively operating the plural ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 .
  • Figure 6 shows behavior of the ice crystals Cp .
  • Figure 6(a) shows the suspension Ls supplied by the ice producing means 2 to the ice pillar producing means 3 , wherein the diameter of the ice crystals Cp is 20 to 50 ⁇ m and the grain density thereof is 30 to 50%.
  • Figure 6(b) shows the ice crystals Cp in the lower accumulation chamber 3L of the ice pillar producing means 3 , wherein the diameter of the ice crystals Cp remains unchanged, while the grain density thereof becomes large.
  • Figure 6(c) shows the ice crystals Cp in the upper accumulation chamber 3U of the ice pillar producing means 3 to indicate the state that fusing by the pressure starts.
  • Figure 6(d) shows the ice pillar Ip (ice cake Cm ), wherein the ice crystals Cp are grown to have a diameter of 100 to 150 ⁇ m.
  • Figures 7 and 8 shows behaviors of the aqueous solution Lu and the cold water Iw in the column filter 51 of the separating means 5.
  • the aqueous solution Lu is substituted for the cold water Iw , thereby the aqueous solution Lu is pushed out in the column filter 51 without dilution.
  • an amount of the cold water Iw that the separating means 5 requires for the substitution is about 40% of the volume of the ice pillar Ip.
  • the suspension Ls produced by the ice producing means 2 is made to contain the ice crystals Cp of high ratio, the ice crystals Cp are grown to produce the column-shaped ice cake Cm , and the concentrated solution Lt is taken out from the ice pillar Ip obtained by cutting the ice cake Cm to a give length. Accordingly, the apparatus can perform continuous operation of freeze concentration and be reduced in size, so that facility investment can be reduced.
  • the ice crystals Cp in the suspension Ls produced by the ice producing means 2 can be large and spherical by the ice pillar producing means 3. Accordingly, the ice crystals Cp produced regardless of an ice producing method can be used for freeze-concentration, thereby enabling great enhancement of concentration efficiency.
  • the present embodiment is useful in concentration of fruit juice, wine and the like, concentration of pharmaceutical material, turning of seawater into fresh water for shipping and for remote islands, and disposal of industrial waste water.
  • the ice producing means 2 produces the suspension Ls in such a manner that the excessively cooled state of the aqueous solution Lu is dispersed by the stirring mechanism 23 .
  • the ice producing means in the present invention may be provided with a scraping blade mechanism for scraping an ice generated on the surface of the cooling cylinder 22 .
  • the cold water Iw is injected to the separating means 5, while the cold water Iw may be merely infused to the upper end part of the column filter 51 to which the ice pillar Ip is inserted.
  • a vacuum pump connected with the lower end part of the column filter 51 is driven to apply a negative pressure to the column filter 51 so as to take out the concentrated solution Lt in the ice pillar Ip .
  • a centrifuge having a rotary cylinder may be provided.
  • the separating means 5 after the ice cake Cm produced by the ice pillar producing means 3 is clashed adequately by manual operation or the like and the ice cake Cm or thus clashed flakes are accommodated into the rotary cylinder, the concentrated solution Lt in the ice cake Cm or the flakes is centrifugally separated and taken out by rotating the rotary cylinder.
  • the rectification plate 33 is provided in the ice pillar producing means 3 , but is not necessarily provided therein in case where the dimension of the accumulation chamber 3R is large, i.e.. the accumulation chamber 3R is large in the longitudinal direction.
  • a pressure may be applied to the suspension Ls in the ice pillar producing means 3 by a separate pressure applying means, or the ice crystals Cp in the suspension Ls may be fused by pressure application and the weight of itself.
  • the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 is provided in the above embodiment, while the ice pillar cutting/conveying means 4 is not necessarily provided in the invention according to claim 1 . In short, only required is to convey the ice pillar Ip of a given length from the ice pillar producing means 3 to the column filter 51 of the separating means 5 .
  • the ice pillar producing means 3 can be used as an independent ice pillar producing apparatus.
  • the produced ice pillar can be used as food in a sherbet state, for example, with the use of wine.
  • food having novel taste such as a stuffing in a dumpling can be obtained, instead of frosty food such as conventional food in a sherbet state.
  • the freeze-concentrating apparatus for an aqueous solution the ice pillar producing apparatus and the freeze-concentrating method for an aqueous solution are useful in concentration of beverage, alcohol, a medicament and the like, and suitable for disposal of turning industrial waste water or seawater into fresh water.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physical Water Treatments (AREA)
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EP98923190A 1997-06-13 1998-06-09 Gefrierkonzentrationsvorrichtung für wässrige lösungen, vorrichtung zur herstellung von eiskolonnen und gefrierkonzentrationsverfahren für wässrige lösungen Withdrawn EP0988880A4 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP15704497A JP3397290B2 (ja) 1997-06-13 1997-06-13 水溶液の凍結濃縮装置並びに氷柱生成装置及び水溶液の凍結濃縮方法
JP15704497 1997-06-13
PCT/JP1998/002551 WO1998056480A1 (fr) 1997-06-13 1998-06-09 Appareil de cryoconcentration pour solutions aqueuses, appareil de fabrication de colonne de glace et procede de cryoconcentration pour solutions aqueuses

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0988880A1 true EP0988880A1 (de) 2000-03-29
EP0988880A4 EP0988880A4 (de) 2000-07-12

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EP98923190A Withdrawn EP0988880A4 (de) 1997-06-13 1998-06-09 Gefrierkonzentrationsvorrichtung für wässrige lösungen, vorrichtung zur herstellung von eiskolonnen und gefrierkonzentrationsverfahren für wässrige lösungen

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US (1) US6367285B1 (de)
EP (1) EP0988880A4 (de)
JP (1) JP3397290B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2294640A1 (de)
WO (1) WO1998056480A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

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WO2022064161A1 (fr) * 2020-09-28 2022-03-31 Institut National De Recherche Pour L’Agriculture, L’Alimentation Et L'environnement Installation combinee de generation d'energie calorifique et de dessalement d'eau

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JP2002357379A (ja) * 2001-05-31 2002-12-13 Hokuriku Electric Power Co Inc:The 粒氷脱水方法とその装置
CA2448893A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-05-12 Icefloe Technologies Inc. Method and apparatus for controlled ice crystal formation in a beverage
JP4505312B2 (ja) * 2004-11-12 2010-07-21 新日本空調株式会社 融解分離装置
JP4764127B2 (ja) * 2005-09-26 2011-08-31 株式会社シマシステム 日本酒用凍結濃縮装置および凍結濃縮方法
US8956542B1 (en) * 2013-07-30 2015-02-17 Showa Freezing Plant Co., Ltd. Method for processing radioactively-contaminated water
CN103405942B (zh) * 2013-08-29 2014-12-10 陈锦权 一种新型悬浮式冷冻浓缩设备
SG11201601447TA (en) * 2013-08-29 2016-04-28 Meiji Co Ltd Production method for concentrated product using freeze-concentration method
RU2564999C1 (ru) * 2014-04-14 2015-10-10 Виктор Николаевич Бехтерев Способ извлечения органических веществ из водных сред экстракционным вымораживанием в поле центробежных сил
WO2016006004A1 (en) * 2014-07-08 2016-01-14 Viglundsson Thorsteinn Ingi Production and use of dewatered ice-slurry
KR101957687B1 (ko) * 2016-09-08 2019-03-19 코웨이 주식회사 제빙기
CN106901100B (zh) * 2017-03-07 2020-10-16 合肥通用机械研究院有限公司 冷冻浓缩提纯装置
JP6751065B2 (ja) * 2017-09-27 2020-09-02 株式会社明治 可視光が外部から内部に透過する槽内における粒子数分布検出方法及び検出装置
CN112830539B (zh) * 2021-01-21 2022-09-09 深圳环瑞环保科技有限公司 一种利用低温相变结晶深度浓缩高含盐废水的装置及方法、应用

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CA2294640A1 (en) 1998-12-17
JP3397290B2 (ja) 2003-04-14
WO1998056480A1 (fr) 1998-12-17
JPH11501A (ja) 1999-01-06
US6367285B1 (en) 2002-04-09
EP0988880A4 (de) 2000-07-12

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